2006 4Runner V8 Limited

[V1GiLaNtE]

Excuse me sir, but your rear tire seems to be flat  

That's what 20 psi looks like. 


@Polen - Everybody was drooling over this thing. Steve, the owner, lives and works in NYC and only pulls this out of the garage to off-road it. He's a hero.

[JPolen01]

^My hero

[Goodspeed]

That looks like a ton of fun. I need to ride along at one of these things at some point, to at least erase some of the shame I bear from not doing anything like this when I had my XJ. 4Runner is looking really solid!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Tubing Trip - 8/18/2018

Just got back from another camping trip this weekend and figured I'd give a small update. Nothing major for the 4Runner mods wise. Suspension has settled and will need to throw a spacer on the drivers side to counterbalance the extra weight from the gas tank. Immediate future I need to repaint parts of my sliders and I'd like to pull the rear bumper and POR15 the hitch and other areas before the winter salt onslaught. 

Longer term I'm probably going to fully protect underneath by installing the Tcase skid I have from RCI as well as their transmission skid. I'm considering building a cargo drawer on the passenger side with a stove slide for easy camp cooking. Pretty much copying this guys design.



On the camping front, I made a big investment in a ground tent from a company based out in Australia called OzTent. It's the RV4. A couple of friends have these and swear by them. Probably one of the most most bomproof and easy to setup tent out there. It survived the worst storms I have ever camped in this past Friday night with about an 1" of water accumulated. We were bone dry. 

Here's a couple of pics of how I have the truck setup with the OZ Tent. Lots of shade and rain coverage. We were in a campground for a tubing trip, but I like the setup. Next time I'll probably pull the truck closer to the tent awning so there is seamless coverage between the two. After a year and half of the ARB awning use I don't really like the design. It's a bit of a PITA to setup with 1 person and putting it away is even more annoying. I had it for sale and then pulled it right before the trip knowing the storms were possible. I would prefer to upgrade to a "Batwing" style awning with 270 degree coverage. They are probably about as much work to setup, but I think putting them away is a lot easier process. Basically fold up the legs and no need to roll the canvas into a perfect size to fit in the awning bag. 








As of two weeks ago, I paid the 4Runner off which freed up money for savings. In all honesty, my gut feeling is to continue to drive this for a year and then switch to something different (read truck). I keep falling back on the ease of having the bed for gear as well as doubling up for a place to sleep. I've been thinking about the Colorado ZR2 for a turnkey rig, but I am hesitant about resale and reliability. While the Tacoma's are great trucks I think they are super overpriced and honestly inflated. Drum brakes in 2018? GTFO. And don't try and woo me with "crawl control" nonsense. Give me something turn key as we see more manufacturers going this way (ZR2, Raptor, soon to be Baby Raptor, and the JL pickup). 

I've also started thinking about a full size truck and am quite drawn to the newer Ram 1500s. I've been kind of figuring I could maybe pickup a basic 2013-2017 Tradesman 4x4 Ram for ~$20k and send it off to AEV (+$15K) to get their Ram Recruit package for the 1500. F-in DROOL. Standard is new engineered suspension, bumpers, wheels & tires, armor, and heat reduction hood. 





Another option that is getting super popular and affordable are lightweight campers. Go Fast Campers out of Montana is making some amazing campers that drop into your truck bed. It basically combines a truck topper with a hardshell rooftop tent with seamless access between the two. I'm super turned on by this idea.



ANYWAYS. TL : DR - 4Runner works. It's paid for and I'm finding in my trips that a truck would probably better suit me. No car payments may rule that out since money is great. 

[WRXtranceformed]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

[V1GiLaNtE]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

Not gonna lie I would probably splurge for the diesel. Do they usually shit the bed after so many miles? That's why I'm keeping my eyes out on how they are performing all around.

[rherold9]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

Not gonna lie I would probably splurge for the diesel. Do they usually shit the bed after so many miles? That's why I'm keeping my eyes out on how they are performing all around.

In my 2012 they were plagued with stupid electrical shit. Onstar draining battery, windows switches not working, etc. Same things happened to mine and was only at 50k mile range

[V1GiLaNtE]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

Not gonna lie I would probably splurge for the diesel. Do they usually shit the bed after so many miles? That's why I'm keeping my eyes out on how they are performing all around.

In my 2012 they were plagued with stupid electrical shit. Onstar draining battery, windows switches not working, etc. Same things happened to mine and was only at 50k mile range

Lovely. Well maybe Toyota can bring some more refreshing updates to the Taco in 2019+.

[rherold9]

Lovely. Well maybe Toyota can bring some more refreshing updates to the Taco in 2019+.

Two weeks out from a year ownership and the F150 has been flawless besides the sunroof rattle over hard bumps.... *knocks on wood*. Good thing I barely use the sunroof. Looking forward to when the F150 has issues so I sell it

[WRXtranceformed]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

Not gonna lie I would probably splurge for the diesel. Do they usually shit the bed after so many miles? That's why I'm keeping my eyes out on how they are performing all around.

Ryan had the same issues it sounds like I did.  Diesel or gas, the powertrain will most likely be fine but you'll deal with some of the most annoying (and in some cases dangerous) electrical issues.  Aside from the other stuff you can read through in my Canyonero thread, the most troubling was when the truck just flat out died in the middle of a turn after pulling off from a stop sign in my neighborhood.  I brought it in and they said it just needed a software update to fix it.  Uh, I need to worry about a software glitch potentially killing me when I pull out into traffic?  That could have been really bad if that had happened when I was pulling OUT of my hood.  

I've heard Ford has had their share of electrical issues in their trucks and SUVs but anecdotally it seems like the guys here who have had them haven't had any of those problems.  I feel like most manufacturers are the same right now, they're all using the same parts suppliers for the most part anyway

[V1GiLaNtE]

The powertrain of the Chevy will be awesome, the electrical systems will not be

Not gonna lie I would probably splurge for the diesel. Do they usually shit the bed after so many miles? That's why I'm keeping my eyes out on how they are performing all around.

Ryan had the same issues it sounds like I did.  Diesel or gas, the powertrain will most likely be fine but you'll deal with some of the most annoying (and in some cases dangerous) electrical issues.  Aside from the other stuff you can read through in my Canyonero thread, the most troubling was when the truck just flat out died in the middle of a turn after pulling off from a stop sign in my neighborhood.  I brought it in and they said it just needed a software update to fix it.  Uh, I need to worry about a software glitch potentially killing me when I pull out into traffic?  That could have been really bad if that had happened when I was pulling OUT of my hood.  

I've heard Ford has had their share of electrical issues in their trucks and SUVs but anecdotally it seems like the guys here who have had them haven't had any of those problems.  I feel like most manufacturers are the same right now, they're all using the same parts suppliers for the most part anyway

It's a topic I'm honestly pretty ignorant of right now and is mainly just an idea that warrants more of a dreamy like "want" vs need. Which has mostly been a guiding principle in the vehicle's progression. Nothing right now is really stopping me getting out. It's just a matter of how does one enable the continuation of that through convenience and ease.

[Deceus]

My Challenger just straight died after hitting a small dip on 33. Apparently it was a dying ABS module that knocked out the cam sensor. I was doing close to 70 when it happened but fortunately it was during the long straight stretch before the windy rock wall section. I'm sure losing power steering in the middle of one of those turns would have ended lovely. Modern vehicles be scary.

[V1GiLaNtE]

My Challenger just straight died after hitting a small dip on 33. Apparently it was a dying ABS module that knocked out the cam sensor. I was doing close to 70 when it happened but fortunately it was during the long straight stretch before the windy rock wall section. I'm sure losing power steering in the middle of one of those turns would have ended lovely. Modern vehicles be scary.

Dear god. Maybe I'll just hang on to the 4Runner until it dies at +200k miles.

[WRXtranceformed]

My Challenger just straight died after hitting a small dip on 33. Apparently it was a dying ABS module that knocked out the cam sensor. I was doing close to 70 when it happened but fortunately it was during the long straight stretch before the windy rock wall section. I'm sure losing power steering in the middle of one of those turns would have ended lovely. Modern vehicles be scary.

Dear god. Maybe I'll just hang on to the 4Runner until it dies at +200k miles.

If it makes you feel any better, should I feel the need to buy a second car again it's probably going to be an older (2012 or older) Lexus

[V1GiLaNtE]

My Challenger just straight died after hitting a small dip on 33. Apparently it was a dying ABS module that knocked out the cam sensor. I was doing close to 70 when it happened but fortunately it was during the long straight stretch before the windy rock wall section. I'm sure losing power steering in the middle of one of those turns would have ended lovely. Modern vehicles be scary.

Dear god. Maybe I'll just hang on to the 4Runner until it dies at +200k miles.

If it makes you feel any better, should I feel the need to buy a second car again it's probably going to be an older (2012 or older) Lexus

Can't go wrong with those. The GX/LX are pretty much bulletproof. I'd go 100/200 series next if I didn't want a truck.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Welp, spring time means refresh time and a review of what worked/didn't work on the rig for the past year. After almost a year of seat time I'm really disappointed in the Dobinsons setup. It has sagged like crazy with all the extra weight I carry around so I'll be pulling pretty much everything except for the rear coils this spring and replacing.

Items to address:

• Rebuild and install Icon 2.5" extended travel coilovers up front Quote Submitted
  
• Purchase/Install new lower control arms (pretty sure originals are in there) Ordered
  
• Purchase/Install LCA camber bolt/adjusters Ordered
  
• Purchase/Install ToyotaBumpStops.com Durometer BumpStops
  
• Purchase/install Icon 2" shocks in the rear Ordered
  
• Alignment
  
• Install Outpost Offroad lower link guards (rear lower link mounts are thin and vulnerable to bashing) Ordered
  
• Body mount chop kit for tire clearance (33's) Ordered
  
• Some sort of true roof rack (Now that I use an OZTent for camping I need a solid place to keep the tent and other gear that might not fit in the truck) Ordered  Rocky Mountain Racks
  
• Upgraded GMRS antenna and mount for rack
  
• Headlight restoration
  
• Build a storage/drawer system in the rear
  

Other than that it's been mostly oil changes and tire rotations!

[.RJ]

Other than that it's been mostly oil changes and tire rotations!

you mean you can have a project car that doesnt cause headache and you can focus on improving it?  mind blown dot gif.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Other than that it's been mostly oil changes and tire rotations!

you mean you can have a project car that doesnt cause headache and you can focus on improving it?  mind blown dot gif.

A daily driver mind you...  To be fair I did have to replace the brake calipers a couple of months ago because they started sticking again.  I honestly expect no "major" maintenance until about 180k miles where it will get a new timing belt, water pump, belts, etc. (AGAIN). I can see new fluids (tc, diffs, trans) coming soon in the next 10k miles. I'm sitting at 160k miles right now and I don't see this thing dying any time soon.

[Goodspeed]

Just wanted to reiterate that this thing is badass and I love it. Silly little detail - the Shenandoah plate just pops and looks oh so right on this thing. It's one of my favorite plates from any state and looks ace on any "true" 4x4. I really wish I could do stuff like this more!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Just wanted to reiterate that this thing is badass and I love it.  Silly little detail - the Shenandoah plate just pops and looks oh so right on this thing.  It's one of my favorite plates from any state and looks ace on any "true" 4x4.  I really wish I could do stuff like this more!

Thanks man! That means a lot coming from the detail god! For you I will drop some random pics of it doing it's usually "badassery". I'm really bad about keeping up with things.